Ortlieb Rackpacks and Roll Bags

[rocks]

If you are looking for new waterproof luggage for the new touring season, then please try us here; www.gearpac.co.uk or www.gearpac.com

We have decided to keep our pre-christmas reductions going through till end of Jan in our Sale. These including our range of Ortlieb Rackpacks in various sizes as well as Ortlieb and Exped Roll Top Waterproof Bags.

Our new 2008 stock ranges should be arriving shortly too and will start to appear in the shop over the next few weeks, all things being well.

Any questions, queries or enquiries, please drop me a mail or give us a ring..
([email protected]/01244 549421).

Safe and pleasent riding to all. Hope to see you out on the road.

John

 

[davidgibson999]

Good looking website and tempting prices....

 

[rocks]

Black is the new black it seems..

Thanks David, I try to be as competative as I can on prices.. if I am not, I hope people will let me know.

Cheers

John

 

[Dakar Gal]

Hi John,
Ive been meaning to buy one of the ortlieb Rack packs for ages now. Is the website right that the 49 ltr has been reduced from £40.50 to £45.00

 

[rocks]

Tis an 8...

Hi Dakar Gal,
The strike through line shown on reductions means the figure 8's can look like look like figure 0's dependant on internet browsers... original price was £48.50.. now reduced too £45.00 (inc vat). It is a niggle I have been trying to solve, but not quite managed it yet sorry.

Oh with the price of oil going up I am told to expect a lot of the waterproof gear, bags etc, to start to go up in price this year by some suppliers, so I am not sure how much longer I will be able to hold at these prices. Fingers crossed any rises will not be too big.

 

[markie_wales]

what size?

John

Bit of advice please? The Gobi panniers I have on my KTM 990 adv are just too wide for some things, so was thinnking of getting an Ortlieb bag to bungie on the back, but don't know what size to get. I definately want a "rack pack" for ease of carrying etc (is this the right choice?), but don't know whether to get the 21, 34 or 49L (I'm pretty sure the 89 will be way too big!). Given the space on the back I'm leaning to the 34L.

So I need to be able to take a weeks worth of "stuff" with me, and have some space for a few bottles of wine that I tend to pick up. Do you reckon the 34L will be (Goldilocks mode) too big, too small or just right?

Anyone got a 34L one and care to comment? I am assuming they are 100%, 6 hour downpour waterproof and don't need to have everything wrapped in plastic bags inside?

cheers

Markie

 

[GSmonkey]

Just bought a 49ltr rack pack and can say it is about the 'right size' for the bike. It'll easily adjust down to carry less gear if you want due to way it closes. Haven't tested this pack in the rain yet, but all my other ortlieb gear has proved 100% waterproof.

 

[markie_wales]

GSMonkey - thanks for that. What tempts me to the 34 is the length is (witin 1cm) the same distance from the back of the rider seat to the end of the rack. The 49 will over hang by a few inches, but if it does squash down, maybe that's the one.

I'll give John a chance to comment, but gald to hear it's good stuff.

cheers

Markie

 

[GSmonkey]

It won't squash down very well lengthwise, as it has two semi-rigid plastic batons running lengthwise to assist with rolling of the bag. Probably better going for the smaller of the bags if length is the crucial dimension.

I intend to use the bag across the bike resting on top of the panniers.

 

[rocks]

Size matters

Hi Mark,
I hope the following helps.
First off..as long as you get a min of four complete rolls of the top, when closing the bag, ortlieb deem them waterproof and I have not met anyone yet who has had gear get wet, when rolled down four or more times and clipped shut correctly. The volumes are given based on a min of four rolls, but you can roll them down a few more times if you have less in them.
So you should definitely not need to double bag any gear, as long as you close it properly.

As for size, I take it your weeks worth of stuff is based on hotel travelling? Ie no major bulky gear like tent/rollmats/sleepingbags, just cloths and wash gear and odd bottle of vino..

If so, and your riding solo and a good packer with minimum of extras then a 34 ltr could do the trick, but personally i would probably opt for the larger 49ltr to be safe and either let it over hang the end of the bike a little; on the gs this isnt a problem due to the position of the rack and rear lights/indicators (well not on my 1150), but not sure on the ktm, or mount it side ways which is the most common method. Either way the length of the 49ltr is 61cms and I believe that to still be narrower than your handle bars, but do not quote me.

GS_monkey is right, the re-enforcings along the opening mean you cannot squash the bags down along their length very much, but they can be rolled down further and compressed across its width easily if you have less in them.

I do not know anyone who has had any problems filtering with only a 49ltr strapped across the rear of the bike if that helps too. There is only 7cm difference betwen the length of the 31 and 49ltr bags.

One other consideration, I have assumed your just road riding.. if your planning to ride whilst loaded off road, mounting a bag lengthways, will distribute the weight of your luggage further to the rear of the bike and so effectively lighten the front end a little.. not good on sand or snow. Placing the bag across ways can help bring the cg of the bike forward a little, meaning the front end is a little less likley to let go.

I hope that helps.. John.

 

[markie_wales]

John / GSM,

OK so given the 49l seems to be the one of choice, if it hangs over the back of my rack by 3 or 4 inches will it sag over my rear light, or more likely just to droop a little due to the semi ridged plastic bits?

cheers

Markie

 

[GSmonkey]

I'd say that's a function of what you put in it. If you've got enough to make it "full" when you roll it down, then do up all the compression straps nice and firm, the whole thing is fairly rigid and will not sag too much. On the other hand if its virtually empty and you put a heavy pair of shoes at the far end, its going to hang over and obscure your light.

What you could do to guarantee the rear light is OK is use the compression strap at the end of the pack to attach a another strap which would run along the top of the sack to stop it sagging.

 

[Jazbee]

Good site and some tempting gear John. Good also to have a knowledgable GS rider who uses both bike and kit . Looking for a tent and bits n bobs and see you have a recommendation on the site so will have a better dig through and drop a note.

 

[rocks]

over hanging..

Hi Jazbee, thanks and I am always pleased to help if I can. We should have more items arriving over the next few weeks, so if you don't see what your looking for now, drop us and line and I can see if we can get it in for you or recommend some alternatives. I just recently signed new contracts with Vaude so have some great new items due in shortly.

Hi Mark, the overhang issue as GSmonkey has rightly said will much depend on the contents.. but you can minimise the sag a little I would presume by adding a stiff card or plasti card former into the base of the bag then fill as per normal. I did similar with a north face bag I used to use to make the base a bit more rigid, when it was not full. I used a piece of old house for-sale sign..

The way the rackpacks close, means that a tension is placed across the length and end of the bag. This should help keep the sag to a minimum if the bag is reasonably full, if the bag is very emtpy then it will not do much.
The suggestions of compression strap and bungie would in theory work if i have pictured the issue correctly.

Other options that might be worth a look is say a 10cm wide rigid piece of acrylic or similar durable plastic that you can place under the bag and between the seat which is of suitable length, say at least half the bag length to act as an external support..(can be placed in the base of the bag when not in use) or I believe TT and some others do small extention racks. The latter also likley to give you the option of more tie down points, but can be pricey.

Hope that helps.

John

 

[Backmarker]

Weeelll. Having used these bags for a number of years I have a couple of comments:
1) No one ever told me to get 4 rolls, I am often lucky to get one and a bit...but always been completely waterproof.
2) Width wise they sit perfectly across the back of the bike (pillion seat removed, Al Jesse panniers).
3) They do do damage when filtering. Going through the M25 in serious shit I did hit a couple of mirrors (sorry). This was with the otleibs mounted on the Jesses lengthwise- they do stick out further than the panniers when fitted this way (although it should be said that the Jesse's are very narrow in comparison to all other panniers I have seen, and they probably would not have stuck out so much if I had know about the 4 rolls rule).

 

[rocks]

rolls..

Hi Backmarker,
Are you riding a KTM or BMW? And what size rackpack are you using?

 

[Gippo]

John

Bit of advice please? The Gobi panniers I have on my KTM 990 adv are just too wide for some things, so was thinnking of getting an Ortlieb bag to bungie on the back, but don't know what size to get. I definately want a "rack pack" for ease of carrying etc (is this the right choice?), but don't know whether to get the 21, 34 or 49L (I'm pretty sure the 89 will be way too big!). Given the space on the back I'm leaning to the 34L.

So I need to be able to take a weeks worth of "stuff" with me, and have some space for a few bottles of wine that I tend to pick up. Do you reckon the 34L will be (Goldilocks mode) too big, too small or just right?

Anyone got a 34L one and care to comment? I am assuming they are 100%, 6 hour downpour waterproof and don't need to have everything wrapped in plastic bags inside?

cheers

Markie

I have a 49 L bag which I used on my 10 day tour of France last year (where it rained most days and very hard on occasions) and the bag was faultless.

 

[markie_wales]

OK. first thanks to all for the help advice, although I think I got more confused!

Second, I've ordered the 49L one in the end. Some of the ideas about overhang etc that I'm worried about makes sense so I'll give it a go. Perhaps 5 or 6 "rolls" will also help with over hang.

Noticed that the Oxford panniers that I used to use on a Fazer 1000 are 42L expanded, and I never expanded, so I reckon the 49L will be too big, but the 31 may be too small. Oh well ordered now - thanks all!

cheers

Markie

PS If John now says the black 49L ones are out of stock, I'm going to go into a corner and cry,,,,,

 

[rocks]

Black.. the new black..

Hi Mark,
Glad we could be of some help, even if it was to just confuse you..lol.
Your order came through seconds before two others that cleared me out of black 49ltr bags. Seems black truly is the popular colour it seems this year. I don't know what people have against red and yellow, personally they are my favourites. But then I do ride a manderine GS.
Your order has been posted today as well. So should be with you shortly.

The smaller bags by the way, are great for anyone who does a daily commute. Ortlieb also do a motorcycle roll bag, that has a shoulder carry strap at 59ltr. Which i am presently out of, but hope to have some more by next week.

Also the smaller dry bags are great for attaching to the top of Touratech or other alu panniers, as well as liners for panniers, if you don't trust there weather resisting properties..lol.

And for those with BMW rallye suits, the smaller roll tops are great for pocket liners. No more ruined mobile phones or keeping that essential loo roll dry.

Oh and keep your reciepts,, ortlieb gear has a 5 year manufacturers warrenty against defects. See their website or the leaflet that comes with them.

 

[markie_wales]

Thanks John - off to scout the local nieghbourhood for houses for sale - a-hem

cheers

Markie